Mish-Mash, This-n-That

Today is just a mish-mash of pic's I found on my computer. 

This is an old Blondie cartoon I have kept for years.  It makes me laugh because in 1979, summer of 1979, I was extremely pregnant with my first, B, and was in my parents backyard sitting in a lawn chair watching my Daddy.  Daddy was putting up a hammock for Momma (she was in side).  He worked and we chatted and then he had it done.  It was time to try it out and I knew it would not be me so Daddy did the trial run.  He sat, he flipped feet over head backwards.  I was shocked briefly and then started laughing so hard that I thought I would have that baby right there.  He ended up on the ground under the hammock, feet splayed out in front of him.  It was the funniest thing I have EVER seen, my big strong Daddy flying thorough the air.  This cartoon is homage to that minute in my life (and his). 

This sweet little ride I am missing a lot right now with the spring upon us.  The Hubby has been in hot water for a long time since he sold it saying it was not practical and he didn't have room to store it....!!!!  Won't go into the argument but he is/was WRONG!  I miss it truly. 

Found this sweet pic of some kind of moth I took the snapshot of a couple of years ago.  Beautiful. 

Oh, memories of we three and Momma.  The photographer was our Granny on our yearly trip to the zoo.  It was an annual event that we took our lunch and then spent the day.  Great fun. 

Food, Friends and Flowers

This was a fun weekend full of food, friends and flowers.  The big thing was to say goodbye to a friend.  I have previously stated that since I got my new Jeep The Hubby (the cool dude in the pic) wanted to get rid of my Miata.  I was not happy but not necessarily because I wanted the car, although it would have been nice on those top-down days.  He said we had to sell it because it just was not practical.  Well, my defense was that he has a play car, his 1949 Dodge and his 1979 El Camino, why not keep mine!  I lost the battle as he soldiered on to sell.  He just didn't get it, do you?  Anyway, we sold it to a very nice couple about our age and Friday I drove it to the cabin to meet the people on Saturday to seal the deal.  Bye my dear friend, I so loved you!

We went to the cabin this week with tons of food, a car to sell and ready to rest but the rest part was a little wonky.  I had decided that it was time to host a Saturday night with some of our friends, the only obstacle was the screened in porch was thick with pollen and had to be cleaned.  The Hubby and neighbor Jimbo worked hard sweeping and scrubbing all the gunk away for the festivities. 

I stayed busy inside away from the pollen (my allergies are in overdrive this week) preparing food.  Actually I spent most of the time reading and watching TV with Clayton in my lap.  My meal was an easy prepare kind of thing and when you have help with people bringing stuff it works out great.  My theme for the evening was Build Your Own Taco Salad!  We love to have this at home and I wanted to share. 

I got colorful napkins and plastic plates and beautiful gerber daisies for the tables.  I just had to take a picture of the sweet flowers against the backdrop of the black refrigerator.  May have to paint them. 

Now for the very easy taco salads:

Ground Beef

Refried Beans

Taco Seasoning packets

Salsa/picante sauce

Brown the beef.  Add the refried beans, taco seasoning and mix.  A little salsa/picante sauce and water to thin it out.  It's kind of an eyeball thing.  You don't want it to thick or too thin, you want it thin enough to drizzle over the Fritos base.  Building the taco is first a small handfull of Fritos.  You don't want to totally fill the plate or you will have a huge, HUGE finished taco salad when you add all the other stuff. 

Layer:

Fritos

Bean/meat mixture

lettuce

tomato

cheese

black olives

sour cream

avocado/guacomole

salsa

The evening was a huge success and everyone love the salads.  For dessert I purchased a Tres leches cake from the local Reasor's which is to die for.  Absolutely delicious. 

The next morning we got up and The Hubby fixed breakfast for our company, our friends B&K who were recently married in December.  They came the day before for the party and a little fishing.  Too bad the fish were not biting and it was a bit cool.  Clayton enjoyed the whole weekend with tons of people to see and lots of laps to sit in.  Now it is back to the old grindstone.  This morning I was up and headed to workout with 5 miles on the stationary bike and a mile on the treadmill!  A little painting in a bit and pick up the house, the grocery store and the office for a bit.  I really have tons to do today...toodles all!

Busy Times

I feel like I have abandoned my bloggy friends.  I have not commented enough nor have I blogged enough but my life lately has been in absolute overdrive.  I seem to be constantly running with hardly a time to think about anything.  I haven't read a book and I'm finding it hard to sit down long enough to work on my art.  I hope it all slows down a bit, soon.  This week I finished yet another art project. YEAH!  Now I am in a frantic mode to draw something for the next project.  I went to the doctor for my "yearly" this week and I left not feeling too good.  You see, I had my last offical lady thing June 2008, but July, August and this week, September, it decided to hint at a return.  I told her about it and she said that I need an untrasound to rule out ...... "CANCER"...... Excuse me.  I know it is nothing and that I could just still be in the phase of my life but did she have to say that to my face, like that!  I don't think so.  The only kind of cancer that is my family is lung and prostate and one of those is, well not something I should worry about.  This has kind of bumbed me out a bit but I know I'm fine.  I have been in great health and feel great, except for my backache when I sleep too long, past 5:30 am in the morning.  So Wednesday morning I load up my bladder and try to drive in my little bumpy Miata to the ultrasound and have the test.  The last ultrasound I had was 25 years ago when I was pregnant with "A".  I will keep everyone posted.

This weekend is the 3rd annual "Hanging of The Bras".  My old friends from Jazzercise come the cabin and we laugh, drink, eat, laugh, sleep, laugh, and enjoy the bonds of friendship we have made.  I need to get off this computer and get my stuff packed.  I still need to go to the grocery store, pharmacy, liquor store and make time to have lunch with The Hubby.  Stay tuned for some of the wonderful pics from our weekend.  Toodles all and have a wonderful weekend...Oh, check out the latest pic "B" took in the office the other day.  My hair is really getting longer, thank goodnes.  I've been growing it for 1-1/2 years now. 

A Weekend Away

I was able to get away yesterday (Friday) with my top down on the little red Miata to escape to the cabin. What a wonderful drive I had and when I arrived I was able to see the beauty of the area and our yard. I came up her on Wednesday and make the flowerbed I've been wanting to around the dead stump of a tree out front. I hoisted that top soil and planted the clematis plants and it looked beautiful. I came ready to enjoy the weekend reading books, magazines, walking, and lounging in the hammock. The only downside of the place in the woods is the terrible pollen from all the wonderful trees. A few weeks ago I spent 2 hours cleaning off the screened porch and so when I arrived yesterday and saw the nasty porch again I was let down and knew what I had to do.The floor was absolutely yellowish-green from all the pollen. So I began the process of moving all the furniture out and sweeping and sneezing and hosing it out.


After all the pollen dust had been swept and washed off I was ready for my reward which was an afternoon in the hammock.

As I lay reading some of my magazines I dozed off and was awakened by a light thumping on the hammock. I opened my eyes and there was a tiny goldfinch on the strings of the hammock pecking at them and hopping up and down which was making the disturbance on the hammock. He would peck and then look at me to see if I was a threat. He soon flew off into the trees. Very cool.

And now I sit at the neighbors outside table and pirate the other neighbors Internet and enjoy the beauty of the day. The air is cool but the sun is warm. The trees are filled with the wonderous songs of all kinds of birds. The neighbor of who I am pirating his Internet connection just came over here and brought me a beautiful stalk of white iris that is from his yard. I told him I was using his connection and he said, "I know what you are doing. I thought a lady deserved to have flowers." He is a very sweet man and dear friend. I love this place and the people.

Saturday in Town

We stayed in town this weekend for various reasons. Yesterday was a most beautiful day and I spent it doing lots of stuff. First, B came over to bring the granddog for us to watch while they were gone overnight.While he ran around in the backyard I pulled the little red Miata out to give it a good scrub. It was filthy with dirt and bird poop. I also discovered three slight dents on the passenger side door like another car door had dinged it and then there was what looked like white overspray on the front of the car, little white paint specks. I can't seem to win with this poor little car. I finally got the crap washed off and then readied myself for the rest of the day.

The next event of the day was a birthday party for the great nephew's 4th birthday. It was complete with a Jupiter Jump, pinata, Tommy the Train birthday cake and lots of screaming little kids. The Hubby was late for the event but made it for the cake cutting. We then rushed home to let the overnight guest out and feed him dinner. I was concerned because he kept crying and didn't eat his treat that I left him. When I put him in the garage to leave he DID NOT want to go in there. I had to pick him up and drag him in there so I was really worried about his crying.

We then took off for the 2nd event of the day, a couples bridal shower Mexican fiesta at the church which we were co-hosts. The Hubby was so very confused by it being a couples shower and really didn't want to go. He just kept shaking his head and didn't understand the rules of the event. I told him to just go and trust me. In the end he had a great time. We co-hosts got off pretty clean too as the caterer that we hired messed up the order and didn't bring the chaffing dishes or enough chips and so comped the whole meal, so no charge! Nice.

The day done we came home to again let the wuppy-dog out. This time he was limping really bad and kept holding his paw up. Oh my goodness, I've damaged the dog. I was worried that B would never let me keep him again (not a bad thing) and might equate this to when they finally, if ever, have children. Would she trust me to take care of their little ones. I was so concerned and then I remembered that when I was throwing the frisbie with him in the backyard earlier that he turned sharply and he kind of fell and twisted his foot, a sprained doggy ankle, that's it. I didn't sleep well as I worried about him most of the night, which is one reason why we have not replaced the dog or cats. I am a worrier to the max. Well, this morning when I awoke and took him out to do his job not a limp was seen. He is protecting it a bit as I know it is hurt but it didn't stop him for going lightening speed after a squirrel this morning. Whew!

I'm a little anxious as tomorrow I begin the "cleansing" in preparation for the first colonoscopy. I will eat a big ole' T-bone steak tonight, YUM. Oh, and I forgot...yesterday in the mail I received a notice, Jury Duty. The last time I was called was 22 years ago and A was a few days old so I got out of it but this time I will do my duty. I'm nervous though because I have only been in the court house twice in my life, once for the marriage license 32 years ago and for a passport about 6 years ago so it is out of my comfort zone. I will have to do a trial run to find the place. The notice said it would only be for one day or one trial depending. I have to call before and if I'm not needed then I don't have to go. Super. I kind of hope I get a little one so I can have the experience but I don't want a long drawn out thing as I do have to do payroll during the thing I think and I'm the ONLY one that does that. We'll figure it out.

Paid the Price

I was so lucky to get away from it all on Thursday and enjoy the solitude and beauty of the cabin but yesterday I paid the price. The Hubby had hired a local guy to weed-eat and mow and general outside activities around the cabin. I was off on the golf cart enjoying a glass of wine with a friend. I finished the visit and glass of wine and hoppped on the golf cart and as I rounded the corner and approached my driveway there I saw my car. I started crying, "OH NO, OH NO, OH NOOOOO." My drivers side window was smashed. The weed-eating guy had hit a rock while mowing and it smashed out my window. I'm was so mad and so sad that my pretty little car was damaged. I quickly looked at the doors and sides to make sure they weren't damaged either but was lucky. The Hubby wasn't here yet but my neighbor Jimbo, the other half of "Harri", was here and I ran to his cabin and was distraught. I was really more angry at the whole thing. My major complaint was that I just don't have time on Monday to have it fixed and I flashed to my very full schedule on Monday, boogers!!!!! I didn't sleep well as I was thinking of the window all night long. It just makes me so very mad but not much you can do with it. And then The Hubby reminded me that when I drive home tomorrow I can't put the top down on a beautiful 80 degree day because the windows automatically ratchet down and there may be glass in the mechanisms. So I will drive with the top up and the window down all the way. Crap!!!

I think I'll get my IPOD now and take a very long walk this morning and enjoy the sounds of the birds and breathe the fresh air and get it out of my system. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Rest and Relaxation

This week has just flown by after all the rushing around from last week. I haven't accomplished much as I have been sick most of the week but as of today I'm finally, Finally, feeling better. I took off for the cabin early Friday to get a head start on the beautiful weekend. When I arrived it was very quiet and I laid down for a nice nap. I wanted the weekend to be a time for me to heal and energize my body again. We had a quiet night Friday and had a quiet dinner of grilled rib eyes for dinner then bed about 9 pm. I awoke at 8am and knew by looking out the window at the blue sky with white puffy clouds and bright sunshine that it was going to be an awesome day. A quick cup of coffee to encourage the body mechanics and a Slim-Fast down the hatch I prepared for a long walk. I had been on the exercise wagon for most of the week as I was just not well. I took off about 9 am walking fast with my IPOD on towards the wigwam. I couldn't go very far as the creek was up over the roads so I had to change my normal pattern of walking. I ended up walking up two HUGE hills and when on the flay asphalt part of the walk I jogged a little. I spent about 90 ". I made my famous bacon wrapped dates and we hopped into my little red car to the wigwam. The food was all heavy appetizers and the wine flowed abundantly. Two bottles down The Hubby and myself. Whew. The DJ was family member of the birthday girl and the music was not country but mostly disco!!! My favorite. I danced and danced and danced in my borrowed too small boots. The Hubby and I danced some of the swing we had been practicing and I really got into the disco dancing. My hair was dripping with sweat by the time the evening ended. It was over about 10 and we made our way back to the cabin and bed. I woke about 2:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep, tossing and turning for a good hour. Finally I dozed off about 3:30 and slept till 8 am. I rested this weekend and partied this weekend. It was a perfect time.

Beautiful Day

It is a beautiful day and I have been tooling around in my cute little red car with the top down. What a glorious day. I have the day off and I'm totally enjoying it. The bird feeders are full of birds and I'm enjoying watching and listening to them.

I got on the scale this morning and I'm down another 2 pounds so that makes the total so far 12 pounds. YEE HAW! I'm so very stoked but I realized I'm not eating enough food. I really already knew that but I'm on a tear to make a dent in it before the wedding then I'll get a little more sensible. I have joined a website called Spark People and it allows me to track my exercise and my food. Great website and has lots of help. Check it out at www.sparkpeople.com .